DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- PILGRIM'S PROGRESS -- THE CELESTIAL CITY

PILGRIM'S PROGRESS – THE CELESTIAL CITY

"And as it is appointed for men to die once…..." (Hebrews 9:27a)

"So I saw in my dream that they went on together until they came withing sight of the gate. Now between them and the gate was a river, but there was no bridge to go over, and the river was very deep. At the sight of this river, the pilgrims were stunned. Then the men who went with them said, 'You must go through the river or you cannot enter into the City at the gate.' "

Christian and Hopeful came to a river that they had to cross before they could get to the Celestial City. It was a deep river with no way to avoid going through it, and they had to go through it alone. They asked if there was any other way to get to the gate of the City, and the angels told them that there were only two men in history who did not go through the river – Enoch and Elijah. As they waded into the river, Christian began to sink. He cried out in despair and Hopeful helped him through the waters. After crossing the river, they were welcomed into the beautiful City because of the certificates they had received at the beginning of their journeys, and they entered into the joy of the Lord and all the glories of Heaven.

There's an old saying: Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die. But the fact remains that the mortality rate is 100%. No one is exempt. The last lap of the race can be the hardest. But the final destination will be worth everything that we have endured in our pilgrimage through in this life and through the river of death. As the old song says, "It will be worth it all, when we see Jesus. Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ. One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase. So, bravely run the race 'til we see Christ." "Won't it be wonderful there, having no burdens to bear. Joyously singing with heartbells all ringing, O won't it be wonderful there." Doesn't it make you want to go there?

This is the final chapter of Bunyan's "The Pilgrim's Progress." Now, as they say on television, we will return to our regular programming.

Love, Dad